Posted on 03/16/2015 5:24:49 AM PDT by rarestia
Since my 8-year-old copy of Microsoft Money has finally decided to unceremoniously stop working, I've decided to start shopping around for a new personal finance program. My needs are relatively small. I really only use it to track my checking account and mortgage.
I looked into Intuit's Quicken software, but the reviews were pretty bleak. It seems that Intuit hasn't learned and continues to churn out garbage software that people just learn to live with and then are forced to upgrade 2 years later. On top of that, it's my understanding that you have to sign up for an account with them AND your data is stored in Intuit's cloud? Is this true? Any FReepers know about this?
Being an IT professional, I know better than to get snookered into putting any of my personal data in the cloud, and I've built a robust home network to ensure that I never have to. But that one deal-breaker has left me with few options as far a personal finance software goes.
So, FReepers, what personal finance software are you using? Anyone still tabulating their spending on paper? I've considered that. How about spreadsheets like Excel? Considered that as well.
Any recommendations or experiences would be welcome!
I happen to have some kind of Quicken derivative built in to my Credit Union’s website.
There are some banks that provide personal financial management software to their customers, but being that it’s linked to the bank, if you leave them, you probably lose the license to it as well.
My personal finance program is me looking at the bank account and seeing how little I have. I wish one day to need a personal finance program : )
Take a look at this http://www.gnucash.org/
OMG! GNU software! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
If you dont mind paying for the software, http://personal-finance-software-review.toptenreviews.com/acemoney-review.html
:: My needs are relatively small. I really only use it to track my checking account and mortgage. ::
Sounds like you just simply need to build an Excel file. You can add in your 401K/IRA/Pension tracking, too.
If your needs are basic, then Quicken is about the only thing out there anymore. I had been a Money user as well, and it held a lot of promise early. Then Microsoft became disinterested in it, leaving the field to Quicken.
The only issue I have with them is that you do have to get a new version at least every 3 years if you want to use their direct links to banks’ on-line services. If you’re comfortable exporting a Quicken formatted file from the banks, then importing it into Quicken, you don’t have to do this. As good as most banks’ on-line bill-pay services have gotten, you can manage your outbound money with that, and the inbound transactions with the export/import.
I’ve had my “Microsoft Money” (with up-grades) since 2000. I hate to give it up as it is the easiest and friendliest program ever. Really helps during tax time with “reports” of expenditures, etc.
As there is no longer any link-up online, I keep it on an my old HP System which I bought in 2003. I don’t know which will give out first the software or the hardware!
I’ve tried Quicken, iBank and several other programs on my iMac but I hate them because they basically suck.
Microsoft made a big mistake, in my opinion, disposing of Microsoft Money.
Have been using Quicken Starter edition the last three months to track a volunteer organization’s accounts. So far it has performed adequately.
Though an Intuit account is necessary, it is without fee. Cloud storage is available for a fee but not required. And am able to link with serving financial institutions to download account data for reconciliation.
Using the software feels a little clumsy. The reports are a bit stiff. But overall the software does the job.
Likely there is better software out there, including Quicken products. But if you can get a free copy of Quicken Starter it should be worth trying for an evaluation.
Be advised, I do not believe Starter can be upgraded. Nor do I know about any 2 year limitations. So additional reviews would be prudent.
But Quicken requires online access and that you store your data on their systems. Is that not the case?
I use excel.
Excel.
Do you have experience with GnuCash or AceMoney? I really don’t mind spending money on software. My only requirement is that it’s self-contained and doesn’t require that I sign into an external system to access my registers.
GnuCash appears to be more accountant-level, which I don’t mind, but I really want to be able to import my Money registers. AceMoney has promise.
Microsoft Excel. I can tailor it to however I want to analyze my finances. Very flexible program.
I guess I don’t understand how to use Excel that way. I am by no means an Excel power user. I use Excel for organization of computer resources but not for finance.
I’ll have to look into this.
For OSX I use iBank now. It’s ok. I used to use Quicken, then went with Money.
When WinTen comes out I’ll go back to Quicken probably.
The feature I like is when downloading transactions my finance software automatically is notified and imports it.
Another thing that helps a lot is 1Password to keep my logins and passwords straight. It’s a breeze now.
Lots of support and works across platforms.
There is even an app for convenience when you are on the go.
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